Device for disposal of an article of personal hygiene

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for receiving an article of personal hygiene to be disposed of, especially a sanitary tampon, comprising a receptacle ( 1 ) made of recycling material and formed with a hold space ( 3 ) for the article and a storage space ( 4 ) for packings ( 14 ) which is separate from the hold space ( 3 ) and takes up the article for disposal, a wall ( 9 ) of the receptacle ( 1 ) being formed with a dump opening ( 6 ) adapted to be closed and through which the article can be thrown into the hold space ( 3 ), and with a withdrawal opening through which the packings can be taken out.

1. A device for receiving a sanitary tampon to be disposed of comprising:
 a sanitary tampon discard unit; and 
 and a sanitary tampon distribution unit; 
 wherein the sanitary tampon discard unit is comprised of a sidewall assembly, a top wall, an interior partitioning bottom and a bottom wall, 
 wherein a first portion of the sidewall assembly, the top wall and a first surface of the interior partitioning bottom define a first receptacle within the sanitary tampon discard unit for housing a disposed sanitary tampon; 
 wherein a second portion of the sidewall assembly, a second surface of the interior partitioning bottom and the bottom wall define a storage space adjacent the first receptacle that includes a plurality of empty packings which take up the disposed sanitary tampon, wherein the storage space has a package withdrawal opening in a wall of the second portion of the sidewall assembly that facilitates successive individual withdrawal of the empty packings one after the other and wherein adjacent empty packings of the plurality of packings are separably linked to each other; 
 wherein the top wall of the first receptacle includes a dump opening and a lid connected thereto in a manner to cover and uncover the dump opening through which a packing containing the disposed sanitary tampon can be thrown into the first receptacle, wherein the dump opening is separate and distinct from the package opening; 
 wherein the sanitary tampon distribution unit is comprised of a support structure configured with a dispensing receptacle, wherein the support structure is comprised of a sidewall assembly and an discard unit interior support, wherein the sidewall assembly is comprised of opposing first and third sidewalls and opposing second and fourth sidewalls, wherein the discard unit interior support extends laterally into the interior of the support structure side wall assembly and connects to the interior walls of the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls, and wherein a first portion of a sidewall of the support structure sidewall assembly is partially removed so as to expose the withdrawal package opening of the storage space within the sanitary tampon discard unit when the sanitary tampon discard unit is positioned within the sanitary tampon distribution unit and is 
 partially exposed, wherein a first end of the support structure sidewall assembly defines an opening through which the sanitary tampon discard unit passes when positioned on the discard unit support wall, wherein the dispensing receptacle, comprising a dispenser sidewall assembly and dispenser bottom wall, stores fresh hygiene articles and is separate from the first receptacle and the storage space, wherein a bottom portion of the first sidewall of the support structure sidewall assembly is a sidewall of the dispenser sidewall assembly of the dispensing receptacle which is configured as a drawer that moves laterally underneath the discard unit interior support to facilitate removal of fresh articles of personal hygiene. 
 
     
     
       2. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lid has first and second ends wherein the first end is connected to the top wall of the sanitary tampon discard unit in manner so that the lid may be swung between closed and open positions and wherein the second end of the lid may be releasably connected to to the top wall. 
     
     
       3. The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the lid has a exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the interior surface of the lid covers the dump opening when the lid is in a closed position and wherein the top wall includes interior surface of the lid has a raised portion. 
     
     
       4. The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a fragrant substance is disposed on the lid to produce a smell of freshness. 
     
     
       5. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dump opening is covered by a plurality of strips of resilient material fastened to the interior of the top wall of the sanitary tampon discard unit, wherein the strips are fastened in a manner so that they are overlapping where a slit is formed a cover which is formed with a slit. 
     
     
       6. The device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the cover is defined by strips of resilient material which are fastened to the top wall of the first receptacle and overlap in the area of the slit. 
     
     
       7. The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the strips are strips of sheet material. 
     
     
       8. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser bottom wall is inclined towards the bottom portion of the first sidewall of the support structure, whereby the empty packings in the dispensing receptacle will slide toward the withdrawal opening to be grasped readily by a user. 
     
     
       9. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sanitary tampon discard unit is made of at least one of cardboard and composite material. 
     
     
       10. The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the interior walls of the first receptacle of the sanitary tampon discard unit are coated with a material that is impervious to liquid. 
     
     
       11. The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of packings are plastic bags. 
     
     
       12. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dump opening is in the top wall of the first receptacle. 
     
     
       13. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dump opening is in a wall of the first portion of the sidewall assembly of the first receptacle. 
     
     
       14. A system for dispensing new and disposing of used sanitary tampons comprising:
 a sanitary tampon discard unit; and 
 a sanitary tampon distribution unit configured to hold the sanitary tampon discard unit;
 wherein the sanitary tampon discard unit comprises a sidewall assembly, a top wall, an interior partitioning bottom and a bottom wall, wherein a first portion of the sidewall assembly, the top wall and a first surface of the interior partitioning bottom define a discard receptacle for housing discarded sanitary tampons, and wherein a second portion of the sidewall assembly, a second surface of the interior partitioning bottom and the bottom wall define a package receptacle adjacent the discard receptacle for housing a plurality of empty packings, wherein the package receptacle has a package orifice in the second portion of the sidewall assembly that facilitates successive individual withdrawal of the empty packings one after the other from the package receptacle and wherein adjacent empty packings of the plurality of empty packings are separably linked to each other; 
 wherein the top wall of the discard receptacle has a discard orifice and a dump door connected to the top wall in a manner to cover and uncover the discard orifice, wherein a packing containing a discarded sanitary tampon may be placed in the discard receptacle through the discard orifice, wherein the discard orifice and the package orifice are separate and distinct; 
 
 wherein the sanitary tampon distribution unit comprises a support sidewall assembly and a dispensing drawer, wherein the support sidewall assembly includes a discard unit interior support structure, wherein the support sidewall assembly is comprised of opposing first and third sidewalls and opposing second and fourth sidewalls, wherein the discard unit interior support extends laterally across the interior of the support sidewall assembly connecting the interior walls of the first, second, third and fourth sidewalls, and wherein a first portion of a sidewall of the support sidewall assembly is partially removed so as to expose the package orifice of the package receptacle within the sanitary tampon discard unit when the sanitary tampon discard unit is positioned on the discard unit interior support structure within the sanitary tampon distribution unit; 
 wherein a portion of the support sidewall assembly is a sidewall of the dispensing drawer, wherein the sidewall of the dispensing drawer is connected to a dispensing drawer body that defines a storage area of the dispensing drawer, wherein the support sidewall assembly has a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the support sidewall assembly defines an opening into which the sanitary tampon discard unit is inserted, wherein the support sidewall assembly includes an interior support structure attached to an interior surface of the support sidewall assembly and positioned above the dispensing drawer, wherein the sanitary tampon discard unit sits on the support structure when positioned inside the opening at the second end of the support sidewall assembly; wherein a portion of the support sidewall assembly has been removed to expose the package orifice of the sanitary tampon distribution unit when the sanitary tampon discard unit sits in the support structure. 
 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14  wherein the support structure of the interior surface of the support sidewall assembly comprises a support member extending from the interior surface of the sidewall assembly above the dispensing drawer, wherein the sanitary tampon discard unit sits on the support member when positioned in the opening of the sidewall assembly. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 14  wherein the support structure of the interior surface of the support sidewall assembly comprises a support wall extending across the interior of the sidewall assembly above the dispensing drawer, wherein the sanitary tampon discard unit sits on the support wall when positioned in the opening of the sidewall assembly.